What to look for in 2011

The tennis offseason is shorter than a Los Angeles Clippers winning streak.

The Australian Open, where the temperatures are higher than Einstein's IQ and the fans are as wild as at any Slam, begins Sunday night, U.S. time.

What will 2011 bring? Here's a forecast, helped along by ESPN experts Pam Shriver and Darren Cahill, of who, and what to look for in the upcoming season:

MEN

1. WILL RAFAEL NADAL WIN THE GRAND SLAM?

No player on either Tour enters '11 with more momentum than the 24-year-old Spaniard. Rafa won the last three majors of 2010, is the unquestioned No. 1 and with a win Down Under would be the first male in 42 years to hold all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously (Rod Laver did it in 1969).

It's not crazy to think Nadal could win the calendar Grand Slam (all four majors in one year) as well.

But Rafa enters the Australian on a little bit of a down note. He was beaten in a warm-up tournament last week, and is coming off an intestinal virus.

"I think he's a very strong favorite, because he's conquered all of his challenges," Cahill said. "If he's healthy, he's going to be very hard to beat."

2. WILL ROGER FEDERER REGAIN THE NO. 1 RANKING?

Not likely. But don't write those career obits yet for the man most believe is the greatest of all time. Federer has hired a new coach, Paul Annacone, and defeated Nadal at the ATP World Tour Finals in London in November.

Don't be at all surprised to see Federer, the defending champ in Melbourne, raising the trophy again.

3. WHO COULD STOP THE FEDERER/NADAL DOMINANCE?

It's astonishing to consider that either Federer or Nadal has won 21 of the last 23 majors. Who's going to stop them in '11? Cahill thinks it could be Nojak Djokovic. The Serb had a huge U.S. Open, beating Federer in the semis, and then led his country to a Davis Cup win.

"He's completely relaxed and confident, and confidence is such a big thing for him," Cahill said.

4. WHO ELSE MIGHT BREAK THROUGH AND WIN A SLAM?

Juan Martin Del Potro is coming off a major wrist injury that sidelined him for most of last season, but he could be dangerous again. Robin Soderling is always solid, and well, Andy Murray ought to win a Slam one of these years, right?

5. AMERICANS? ANYONE SEEN ANY GOOD AMERICANS?

The Grand Slam drought continued for Uncle Sam in 2010, and things don't look all that sunny this year. Andy Roddick has had his chances, John Isner and Sam Querrey don't seem ready to threaten at Slams, and Mardy Fish needs to prove he can sustain his new level of play.

One guy to watch out for is Ryan Harrison, the 18-year-old kid who made a small splash at the Open last year. Cahill thinks he could break into the Top 50 and make some noise as an up-and-comer.

WOMEN 1. WITH SERENA WILLIAMS OUT, WHO WILL BE THE TOP WOMAN?

Throw a dart at a list of names and you'd have just as good a shot. Serena hasn't been seen in a long time, since Wimbledon. She's out now with a mysterious foot injury allegedly suffered when she stepped, barefoot, onto broken glass at a restaurant. The void she leaves is huge.

"We just don't know about the women's game," Shriver said. "Not having Serena is a tremendous loss in a lot of ways.

2. CAN NO. 1 CAROLINE WOZNIACKI LIVE UP TO RANKING?

The Dane probably has the most pressure of any player on her in Australia. Much like Dinara Safina last year, Wozniacki has risen to No. 1 without the validation of a Slam win, though she has made one final. Her results in the warm-ups to Melbourne haven't been great, but this tournament provides a great chance for the 21-year-old to break through.

3. WILL KIM CLIJSTERS GET TO NO. 1 DURING COMEBACK ?

It's certainly possible. The two-time U.S. Open champ is in great shape and has a great draw in Melbourne, and unlike most of the top women's players, has actually proven her mettle at a Slam, having won three.

4. WILL MARIA SHARAPOVA OR JUSTINE HENIN GET MOJO BACK?

Sharapova's most famous recent accomplishment was getting engaged to NBA guard Sasha Vujucic. Her tennis has been spotty for years now. Henin's comeback started great last year, then fizzled before she was injured at Wimbledon and missed the U.S. Open. Both have star power, which the women's tour definitely needs.

5. WHO ARE BREAKOUT POSSIBILITIES ON TOUR?

Maybe not a breakout star, but Ana Ivanovic shows signs of finally getting her Top 10 form back. Dominika Cibulkova has the game to crack the elite, and the Israeli Shahar Peer may at last have the game to challenge at a Slam.